REPUBLICANS FOR RUDY

Rudolph W. Giuliani made some new very best friends
when he came to Wilmington in January to receive the
"Pete du Pont Individual Freedom Award" at a gala dinner
for the Delaware Republicans.

It was nice to meet the political celebrity known as
"America's Mayor." It was even nicer that Giuliani's
appearance raised $130,000 for the party. It was nicest
of all when he took the check for $10,000 that went with
his award and gave it back.

His new chums call him "Rudy" now. They would like to
call him "Mr. President" next.

They started to do their part Monday morning when
about 40 of them met for breakfast in Wilmington to set
up a campaign organization to work for Giuliani in the
state's presidential primary Feb. 5.

It is a serious effort on behalf of New York's former
mayor. The politics will be coordinated by Priscilla B.
Rakestraw, the Republican national committeewoman. The
fund raising will be handled by Frank A. Ursomarso Sr.,
the auto dealership owner who worked in the White House
during the Nixon, Ford and Reagan administrations.

"Most presidential candidates come to Delaware to
take something out -- money or votes. Rudy came to
Delaware to put something in. I'm going to be leading
the charge for Rudy. I am inspired by his leadership and
the way he connects with people," Rakestraw said.

"Rudy Giuliani, I've known for 30 years. I can see
him sitting in the Oval Office," Ursomarso said.
The two met because Ursomarso worked on Pennsylvania
Gov. Richard Thornburgh's first campaign in 1978, and
the campaign manager was Giuliani's law school roommate.

Giuliani is the second Republican candidate with a
startup operation here. John McCain's campaign
officially launched in February when U.S. Rep. Michael
N. Castle, state House Speaker Terry R. Spence and
National Committeeman John R. Matlusky all signed on.

Mitt Romney also is expected to have a presence,
although there is nothing formal yet. Sussex County
Republican Chair David M. Burris is talking him up.

Other Delawareans who have committed to Giuliani's
campaign include William E. Manning and Robert W.
Perkins, who were both top aides to Gov. Pierre S. du
Pont, state Rep. Pamela S. Maier and Wilmington
Councilman Michael A. Brown Sr.

Beyond Giuliani's iconic performance on Sept. 11, he
seems to be a fit for the upstate moderate Republicans,
who still hold sway in the party, because of his
politics. He is a mayor who cut taxes, a law-and-order
prosecutor and a social moderate. (Also a liberal on
marriage, but there is no such thing as a perfect
candidate.)

"The Republican Party needs to scramble the eggs. It
needs to re-examine its strict social-issues approach to
the nominating process," Perkins said.

Giuliani is scheduled to return to Wilmington for a
splashy breakfast on June 14, and that trip ought to
bring dividends, too. Right up there with raising money
in politics is having a presidential candidate pay
attention.